Approved landlord database (Boston Housing Authority)
| Submitted | Nov. 29, 2013 |
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Communications
From: Shawn Musgrave
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
The database, listing or inventory of approved landlords, including those approved for Section 8, Mass-Housing financed and authority-financed units. Please send these lists for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Shawn Musgrave
From: Commodore, Wilbur
December 10, 2013
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 9370
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
RE: Public Records Request
MuckRock News -
Dear Mr. Musgrave:
The Boston Housing Authority has received your request, dated November 29, 2013. We are in the process of compiling the data and will provide it to you as soon as it is available. While we do not anticipate that the cost of responding to this request will be prohibitive, in fact we anticipate it to be quite minimal, you will be charged for the costs related to retrieving and preparing the data for delivery to you.
Please be advised that the Boston Housing Authority is a keeper of personal data. The documents and/or data sought by your request would, if they exist, include documents and/or data which are not public record, as the term is defined in M.G.L. c. 4, §7, cl. Twenty-sixth. The statute expressly exempts disclosure of documents and/or data which may constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Wilbur E. Commodore
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This e-mail and any attachment or file transmitted with it may contain privileged and confidential information for the use of the intended addressee only. The confidentiality and/or privilege in this e-mail is not waived, lost or destroyed if it has been transmitted to you in error. If you have received this e-mail in error, you must (1) not distribute copy or take any action in reliance on it as any action related to this e-mail or attachment is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful; (2) please notify the sender by return e-mail; and (3) delete the original e-mail.
The Boston Housing Authority, its subsidiaries and/or its employees shall not be liable for the incorrect or incomplete transmission of this e-mail or any attachments, nor responsible for any delay in receipt.
From: Commodore, Wilbur
December 23, 2013
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 9370
PO Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
RE: Public Records Request
MuckRock News
Dear Mr. Musgrave:
The documents produced in response to your public records request dated MuckRock News are now ready for mailing.
The full rate is $65.32, which comes out to $130.64.
The total due is $130.64. This cost reflects $130.64 for staff time expended (2 hours expended to search for and produce the records, at $65.32 per hour). Upon receipt of payment the requested records will be emailed to your attention.
Payment may be made by check or money order, made payable to the Boston Housing Authority and mailed to:
Boston Housing Authority
Legal Deparment
52 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
If you have any questions please let me know.
Sincerely,
Wilbur E Commodore
----------------
This e-mail and any attachment or file transmitted with it may contain privileged and confidential information for the use of the intended addressee only. The confidentiality and/or privilege in this e-mail is not waived, lost or destroyed if it has been transmitted to you in error. If you have received this e-mail in error, you must (1) not distribute copy or take any action in reliance on it as any action related to this e-mail or attachment is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful; (2) please notify the sender by return e-mail; and (3) delete the original e-mail.
The Boston Housing Authority, its subsidiaries and/or its employees shall not be liable for the incorrect or incomplete transmission of this e-mail or any attachments, nor responsible for any delay in receipt.
From: Shawn Musgrave
Hello,
Please confirm that the lowest-paid employee who is able to complete this task is paid at a rate of $65.32 per hour, as required under MGL. This seems high, given that this is a relatively simple administrative task.
Respectfully,
Shawn
From: Commodore, Wilbur
Mr. Musgrave:
This was not a relatively simple administrative task. Retrieving the information required search and retrieval of BHA computer records, a task that could only be performed by an individual in our MIS Department.
Wilbur Commodore
From: Shawn Musgrave
Apologies, I was under the impression this information was readily available. I have dropped a check for the required amount in the mail. Thank you for your help.
Best,
Shawn
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 29, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: Commodore, Wilbur
Mr. Musgrave,
The requested information is attached as an excel spread sheet. My apologies for the delay.
Wilbur Commodore
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Section 8 Landlord records-20131221-1657